Edwin Dewees confirms multi-fight deal with Affliction

As part of his agreement to fill in for Vernon White at the July 19 “Affliction: Banned” event, Edwin Dewees has earned a multi-fight deal the upstart promotion.

Dewees (35-12), who fights former PRIDE stand-out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3) at the Affliction show, trains at Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., and representatives from the gym today confirmed the signing.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This is obviously a great opportunity for me,” Dewees stated in today’s press release. “Affliction has done an unbelievable job in organizing a world-class event, with some of the biggest names in the sport on the fight card.”

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, White was scratched from the event after failing a drug test (due to a banned diuretic) following a May 31 Xtreme Fighting Association event in Las Vegas. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio immediately targeted Dewees a former UFC fighter and cast member from “The Ultimate Fighter 4.”

“We definitely had our sites set on Dewees, and I am very happy to announce that he has signed a multi-fight deal with us,” Atencio stated. “Dewees was our first choice as a replacement for White. He is a great addition to our all-world-caliber card.”

Although the White-Nogueira fight had been slated for the FSN portion of the event, the cable station will now instead air a bout between Vitor Belfort and Terry Martin (in addition to Paul Buentello vs. Aleksander Emelianenko). The Dewees vs. Nogueira fight will take place on the un-aired preliminary card.

For the latest on “Affliction: Banned,” including the night’s pay-per-view main card, check out the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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Speaking of Affliction, the organization today confirmed that more than 250 media members from around the globe have requested credentials for the event.

In addition to the U.S., the requests have come in from Russia, Japan, Korea, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, according to the organization.